LIVESTOCK, DAIRY, AND POULTRY

All cattle and calves on farms January 1, 1997 in New Jersey totaled 68,000 head, the same as a year ago. Value per head also remained unchanged at $790.00. The 1997 inventory value was estimated at $53.7 million, equal to the total of a year ago.

Milk cow numbers on January 1, 1997 fell to 21,000 head, 9 percent less than the 23,000 head last year. Beef cows were estimated at 14,000 head, a decline of 1,000 head from the January 1, 1996 total. Of the total cattle and calf inventory, cows that have calved accounted for 51 percent. Heifers weighing 500 pounds or more totaled 13,000 head, 19 percent of total inventory. Of these, 8,000 were milk cow replacements, 3,000 were beef cow replacements, and 2,000 were intended for slaughter. There were 6,000 steers weighing 500 pounds and over, 9 percent of all cattle and calves. Bulls at 500 pounds and greater numbered 2,000 head or 3 percent of the total inventory. Calves under 500 pounds accounted for the remaining 12,000 animals, 18 percent of all cattle and calves on January 1, 1997. The 1996 calf crop was 1,000 head less than 1995, totaling 28,000 head.

Milk production in the Garden State totaled 297 million pounds, down 7 percent from the 320 million pounds produced in 1995. The average number of milk cows declined to 22,000 head. Milk per cow averaged 13,500 pounds in 1996 compared to 13,913 a year earlier. The leading milk producing counties continued to be Warren, Sussex, Salem, Burlington and Hunterdon, accounting for 86 percent of the state's total. Value of production of milk totaled $45.4 million during 1996, compared with $42.6 million in 1995.

All hogs and pigs on New Jersey farms totaled 21,000 head on December 1, 1996. This number decreased 13,000 head (38 percent) from the number of head on December 1, 1995. Value per head averaged $110.00, twenty-eight dollars more than a year ago.

The total value of the hog and pig inventory value amounted to $2.3 million, compared with $2.8 million the previous year. Of the total hogs and pigs on farm in the state, 10 percent were kept for breeding and 90 percent were market hogs. The New Jersey pig crop totaled 16,000, down 30 percent from 1995.

The sheep and lamb inventory total decreased to 17,500 on January 1, 1997, down 1,000 head (5 percent) from one year earlier. Value per head, at $120.00 is $5.00 below last year's level.

Total inventory value of all sheep and lambs fell to $2.1 million, a decrease of 9 percent from the January 1, 1996 level of $2.3 million.

Wool production totaled 96,000 pounds in 1996, up 3 percent from the 93,000 pounds in 1995. Fleece weight average was down 2.4 pounds from 1995 to 6.9 pounds. Sheep shorn for 1996 totaled 14,000 animals, 40 percent more than a year ago. The value of wool production in 1996 increased to $75,000, up $4,000 from 1995.

Egg production in the Garden State in 1996 increased to 475 million eggs, compared to 444 million eggs in 1995. Eggs per layer averaged 264, up from 249 the year before. Average layer numbers on New Jersey farms totaled 1.80 million during 1996, rising 1 percent from 1.78 million the preceding year. In 1996, poultry managers in the state received on average 72.8 cents per dozen eggs, up 16 percent from the 62.6 cents per dozen received in 1995. This price reflects the average price received by egg producers for wholesale and retail sales of all sizes and grades of eggs. The value of egg production increased to $28.8 million during 1996, up from $23.2 million in 1995.

Sales of chickens(excluding meat chickens) totaled 595,000 head, 32 percent less than the 880,000 head sold in 1995. The average price received in 1996 was 2.0 cents per pound, the same as the previous year's average price. Value of sales equaled $40,000 in 1996, down $22,000 from the preceding year.

New Jersey turkey production in 1996 was 73,000 birds, down 15,000 from the number of turkeys raised the previous year. Turkey growers received an average price of 83.0 cents per pound compared with 90.0 cents per pound in 1995. In 1996, the value of production decreased to $1.37 million, down 23 percent from $1.78 million the year before.

Honey production in the third colony amounted to 225,000 pounds, declining 17 percent from the 272,000 pounds produced in 1995. Beekeepers received an average price of $1.06 per pound in 1996, up 29.0 cents from previous year. The value of production rose from the 1995 level of $209,000 to $239,000.

Additional Livestock Tables